Abacus Mom

Dance Your Way Into NYC Private School, Ballet School or Selective Arts High School with Victoria Bader

Some of my educational consulting clients have danced with Victoria Bader and spoken highly of her.  In my experience, NYC private schools often look well on students who have a serious commitment to dance.

Victoria sent this information to Abacus Mom for families looking for ballet training:

About Victoria Bader

Victoria Bader was born in  Sydney, Australia. Commencing serious ballet training at age 8 and discovering a love of ballet, Victoria began her performing career at the age of 16 in Australia and abroad dancing in ballet companies and performing for film and television. Victoria began teaching ballet in 1980,  her love of teaching propelled her into a lifetime commitment to passing on her knowledge to thousands of students worldwide.

Victoria Bader In New York City

In 2000 Victoria Bader opened her New York Studio, located on the Upper West Side and in Midtown. Devoting her time and expertise to ballet and theatre, following the traditions set by the many master teachers that influenced Victoria’s understanding of ballet. This intrinsic value Victoria continues to acknowledge, plays an important role in, and has  a positive influence on Victoria’s approach to teaching. During Victoria’s 25 years of teaching worldwide, she has successfully helped many students gain entry into prestigious ballet and performing arts schools including SAB, Royal Ballet School, and Joffery Ballet. A number of Victoria’s students have also gained entry into La Guardia High School of the Performing Arts in NYC. In addition to refining the ballet students' physicality and understanding of ballet, Victoria also works extensively with ice skating dancers who desire optimum flexibility, beautiful lines and a movement quality that complements their ice dancing.

Victoria Bader Studio Today

The caliber of training offered  by Victoria Bader is of the highest quality, with the teaching philosophy being “to focus on providing individual care and guidance to all students throughout their time with me”. This approach continues to add new success stories to a long list of successful artists, in both classical ballet and musical theatre.

Victoria Bader is certified to teach the American Ballet Theater National Training Curriculum. The Royal Academy of Dance Ballet Cirrriculum. Victoria guest teaches at many international schools and is an adjudicator for many Dance competions.

Victoria offers programs for preschool age children to professionals in ballet and jazz for 10 years old and over. Private coaching is available. For futher enquiries please visit our website  www.victoriabader.com or email victoria(at)victoriabader.com

This Tip Will Help Your Child Get Into NYC Private School Kindergarten

For better or worse, NYC private schools want to admit mature students.  From their perspective, who better to admit to kindergarten than students who are already performing at kindergarten level?

So the time to push your three or four year old ahead is now--spring and summer--before he will be under examination when he applies this fall.

In my almost fourteen years as an educational consultant, I notice again and again how much young Manhattan children mature after a summer at suburban day camp.  Something about getting on the bus, running around on a big country campus, playing new sports, making new friends, swimming and being in a completely new environment allows kids to take great developmental leaps.  Children return to school in the fall more mature physically and mentally and most importantly, almost every child I've worked with has loved day camp.

At suburban day camp, NYC children learn to socialize with a new group of kids outside of nursery school, and adapt to following the directions of a new group of teachers and counselors.  By the end of their four, six or eight week day camp session, campers have stronger skills and have gained great confidence in themselves and their abilities.  This can translate to an easier time separating from parents at private school interviews and ERB testing.

Over the years, I have looked at a number of day camps and discussed them with many of my kindergarten educational consulting clients.  For the summer of 2012 I am delighted to have partnered with the one that impresses me most.

This Westchester day camp

• is close to Manhattan
• offers a special mini-day option, allowing nursery schoolers to go home at 2:30pm rather than the more typical 4pm
• has a long history and puts safety first
• has many trained teachers as counselors
• stretches kids physically, intellectually, and creatively
• offers ice skating (!) as well as many other incredible activities

To learn more, email me, and I will connect you to the camp’s lovely director for more information and if you’d like, a special tour of camp.  Note nursery school and lower school grades at this Westchester day camp fill quickly, so secure your child's spot ASAP.

Mohawk Country Day School New Option for Manhattan PreK, Kindergarten, and 1st Graders

Barbara Schainman from the well-known, well-respected Camp Mohawk sent Abacus Mom the following info:
  
Calling Manhattan Kindergarteners & Preschoolers: Mohawk Country Day School Has Space for You This September
Newly Renovated Classroom Space Designed for the 2012-2013 Year is Ready Now!
Offering Two-Way Transportation and Relief to Waitlist Woes

Due to many inquiries and early construction completion, Mohawk Country Day School is opening its doors to Manhattanites for the upcoming 2011-2012 year.  In response to the city's overcrowding issue, the private school located 30 minutes from Upper Manhattan in Westchester County is offering kindergarten, first grade and 4 year-old students newly renovated classroom space; to which the school will provide two-way transportation service.  The tuition is approximately half that of Manhattan private schools, and offers equally competitive programming.

The Schainmans have been serving camp families from the city for years. To bestow the same luxury for school children, at a time when the demand for quality education far exceeds the supply, seems only logical.The 80 year old school comes equipped with an experienced permanent staff and is chartered by the New York State Department of Education.

Mohawk Country Day School is considered one of the best in its class, with a significant international population, and a unique indoor/outdoor learning environment.  Located on a 40-acre facility in White Plains- complete with an operating farm, play village, bicycle center, nature trails and more, for NYC parents and kids, the opportune answer to education woes, may be just a bus ride away.  $16,210 for Kindergarten and 1st grade, $13,140 for 4 year olds, optional hot lunch and transportation to and from Manhattan, public school birthday requirement for kindergarten children turning 5 by December 2007.  Serves children from 2 years, 9 months through first grade.

www.mohawkcountrydayschool.com  Call (914) 949-2635 for more info!

New York Kids Ranked and Judged From Babyhood On

With all the parental angst concerning getting into Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Riverdale nursery schools and elementary schools, I had to laugh today at Sarah Maslin Nir's New York Times article about competitive entry into Manhattan dancing school.

Her article made me think about other New York institutions which rank and judge children for entry.  One that popped to mind:  the American Museum of Natural History's Science and Nature Program.  From the museum's website:

THE SCIENCE and NATURE PROGRAM is on-going from ages 3 through 5th grade. Admission is by application followed by a family interview. A parent or grandparent must accompany children in The Science and Nature Program until the 3rd grade. Students who graduate in the 5th grade have the opportunity to enter the Museum's "pipeline" in the sixth grade, and may continue with their science learning at the Museum through high school.

It has never made sense to me that such a prominent Manhattan museum should find it necessary to rank, judge, and often reject young children for admission to a science class.  Since space must be limited, a lottery would make sense rather than the puzzle, do you love animals? questions they use, as well as giving preference to people with connections.

 

Private School Edge New Option for ERB Prep

Colin Raybin, President of Private School Edge, a well-respected Manhattan tutoring firm, sent Abacus Mom the following info about her firm’s approach to the ERB kindergarten test.  Private School Edge, a tutoring company geared to the needs of private school students in New York City, has launched a new manual for the ERB Kindergarten Test.

Our approach to the test is to not only address test-specific items, but also to work on the test material in a non-direct approach as well. This holistic approach to the material will aid in preparing the child with skills that are not only essential to the test, but also essential for Kindergarten preparedness.  We offer reliable tutoring services to students and parents with a positive, well-rounded approach to test preparation.

The author  has her Masters of Education in Human Development and Psychology  from Harvard University and her undergraduate degree in the Biological Basis of Behavior and Psychology from University of Pennsylvania. In addition, the author has worked as the Director of Exmissions, the Head Pre-Kindergarten teacher at her preschool, and has tutored and mentored elementary and early childhood students academically and in test preparation skills for years.  

Ms. Raybin, the Managing Editor for this book, brings 12 years of test preparation to the manual. In addition to tutoring for the ERB and SSAT for a dozen years, she contributed to the Cracking the ISEE/SSAT book found in bookstores nationwide for a number of years and updated the most recent edition of the manual. She has coached hundreds of students through the private school admissions and testing process in New York City.        

 Colin Raybin can be reached at 212- 372-3071 or ColinRaybin@PrivateSchoolEdge.com.

Abacus Guide to Schooling, Enrichment, and Parenting

For a limited time, email info(at)abacusguide.com for your free subscription to our monthly newsletter, Abacus Guide to Schooling, Enrichment, and Parenting.  We'll keep you up-to-date on all the latest admissions, test prep, enrichment and parenting trends.

Bracken School Readiness Assessment (BSRA) Test Prep Book Now Available on Amazon

Today test prep company Aristotle Circle released its new Bracken School Readiness Assessment (BSRA) test prep workbook on Amazon.  A lot of folks have been seeking help with the Bracken since it is one of the tests the Department of Education (DoE) currently uses to assess giftedness.  To order your copy,

Aristotle Circle Bracken School Readiness Assessment (BSRA)Test Prep Workbook

NYC Kindergarten and ERB: Bestselling ERB Test Prep and NYC Private Schools Admissions Books

To help you assemble your library, here are the books that parents applying to Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Riverdale private schools are buying now:  

ERB Test Prep Workbooks and Guides:

Aristotle Circle ERB Test Prep Workbook

Bright Kids ERB Test Prep Workbook

Private Schools Guidebooks:

Manhattan Family Guide to Private Schools and Selective Public Schools

Manhattan Directory of Private Nursery Schools

The Kindergarten Wars:  The Battle to Get Into America's Best Private Schools

NYC Guidebook, Includes Classes, Camps, and Enrichment Activities

City Kid New York:  The Ultimate Guide for Parents

Novel about Private Schools Admissions, Includes a Few Tips and More Laughs (you'll need them with all these private school applications)

Where Does Caitlyn Go To School?

City Kid New York: Great Guide for NYC Parents

I just picked up Alison Lowenstein's new guidebook, City Kid New York.  Unlike many other New York City guidebooks I've read, which are outdated and limited, Lowenstein includes up-to-the-minute, comprehensive listings of parenting websites, enrichment activities, camps, theater and concert performances, museums, and lice checkers, among other vital parenting subjects.  One very interesting and unique section covers books, comics, literary landmarks, and book festivals.  City Kid New York is a very useful resource for natives and relocating families alike.

Does Your Four Year Old Need a Professional ERB Prep Tutor?

No.  Any mother, father, or bright, interested babysitter is qualified to handle preschool level material, thank you. 

Here's an email I just received from a 2009 Abacus Guide Preschoolers' Prep Program client (details obscured to protect client's confidentiality):

Hi Emily,

Just wanted to provide you with an update.  <Child's Name> got <top ERB score>.  Your advice was key in setting up her ERB prep program with my wife and her babysitter. <Child> went up <huge number of points>.

Thanks again for all of your help.

To learn more or call 212-712-2228 9am-9pm EST. Limited enrollment available so reserve your child's space.  We are now working with parents of children who will take the ERB in 2010.